As an open economy and ranked the top 25 exporting nations in the world, Malaysia stands to reap the benefits from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as it provides tremendous opportunities to access new market, diversify local products and services and attract foreign direct investment.

In the interest and prosperity of the rakyat, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the 2018 Budget will have a higher allocation of RM280.25 billion compared with RM260.8 billion in the 2017 Budget.

Federal government expenditure in 2017 is expected to increase 5.4 per cent to RM265.9 billion, but its share to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is estimated to decline to 19.8 per cent, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

Malaysia's outstanding external debt decreased to RM877.5 billion, or 65.2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) as at end-June this year compared with RM916.1 billion, or 74.5 per cent, at end-2016.

The establishment of the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) is expected to create 60,000 jobs and double exports of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to RM162.9 billion by 2025, according to a Finance Ministry report.

The government will continue to strive in empowering the economy despite policy uncertainties in major advance economies, rising protectionism and geopolitical tension while serve the rakyat to the best of its ability.